What is NOT true of the secretary-general of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)?

Analyze the question: We need the statement that is NOT true of the OAU Secretary-General.

Concept: Under the OAU Charter (1963), the Administrative Secretary-General headed the General Secretariat, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

• Appointed by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government (Article XVI-XVIII). So A is true.
• The Secretariat handled administrative work, including correspondence, preparing meeting agendas, and keeping records. So B and D are true.
• Officials of the Secretariat were international civil servants. They were not to seek or receive instructions from any government, and so they were to act impartially, "without fear or favour". So C is true.
• Term of office: the Charter gave a four-year term, which could be renewed. The first Secretary-General, Diallo Telli of Guinea, served from 1964 to 1972, which was two four-year terms. Later practice was also a four-year term, as with Salim Ahmed Salim, who served three terms from 1989 to 2001.

Checking option E: It says three years, which is wrong. The term was four years, subject to renewal.

Answer: E is NOT true, because the OAU Secretary-General served a term of four years (renewable), not three.

Exam tip: For "NOT true" questions, check each statement against facts you know. With the OAU, remember "4 years, Addis Ababa, 1963." The same four-year term carried over to the African Union Commission chairperson.